Gratitude & Grief (Week 4)
We can be grieving and still be grateful.
When I started practicing daily gratitude, I was deep in grief. Last week and weeks prior, I found myself back in that place of feeling deep sorrow. The chaos and terror that was happening in the world got to me. It broke my heart in many ways, and I spent quite a few days crying and walking through it. During those moments of sadness, I found myself cradled by gratitude. I was grateful to be alive, to be healthy, to be breathing, to be here. What I've unraveled on this journey is that grateful living isn't about the big things. It's about the micro-moments we can get up close and personal with during our peaks and valleys. For me, it's the little things that keep me going—they keep me connected to the greater good and truth of the world. Even when we are in the thick muddiness of our pain, despair, and tenderness, we can grow through it as long as we are alive and present enough to bear witness.
The Lesson: We can access gratitude in grief. We don't have to pretend to be positive or unaffected by our sadness. We can be grieving and still be grateful.
May's Gratitude
May 1st: I am grateful for alone time with each of my daughters this weekend. It's beautiful to watch them change and grow. When we have one-on-one time, I feel like I can really take them in—really see them. I'm thankful for that and them.
May 2nd: I am grateful for a day without calls or meetings. This hasn't happened in months! It felt good to take it easy and not feel rushed to get things done or be somewhere.
May 3rd: I'm grateful for one on one time with my husband. We went to lunch and had a really great time laughing and eating.
May 4th: I'm grateful for sleeping in. A lovely podcast chat with Libby about joy. And a homemade breakfast taco.
May 5th: Making sweet potato cornbread from scratch. I'm grateful for the warm slice I had drizzled honey and butter. Delicious!
May 6th: I'm grateful for rainy day walks. The sounds of nature were so vibrant today, and the leaves on every tree were bright green—a beautiful sight.
May 7th: I'm grateful for the rain boots that Libby gave me. They've been coming in handy on my walks and are super cute.
May 8th: I'm grateful for the lazy Mother's Day I had with my family. My oldest daughter made me the most beautiful card that brought tears to my eyes.
May 9th: I'm grateful for a sunny and breezy day. I took my 232nd walk with my oldest girl. We talked, laughed, and awed at nature. I'm so blessed.
May 10th: I'm grateful that l let myself lay back down this morning. I was exhausted and needed a little more rest. Usually, I'd push through. But today, I laid back down.
May 11: I am grateful for the like-minded folks I do business with. It's incredible how aligned I feel with and in work right now.
May 12: I'm grateful that Natalie and Racheal got to DC safely.
May 13: I'm grateful for a WONDERFUL show at the Kennedy Center. WOW, I wish I could have live shows like that more often. What a treat!
May 14: I'm grateful for African food, family coming over, doing nothing, and evening breezes through the cracked windows of our house.
May 15: I'm grateful for my mom and Pop being married for 23 years. Such a blessing! I'm grateful for friends and my daughters and a good brunch.
May 16: I'm grateful that I learned enough patience to go with the flow. I missed my connection flight to Phoenix. I'm headed out there to teach. My first instinct was to be upset and frustrated, but I redirected. Instead, I took a few deep breaths and let it go. I made it to the first stop safely, and I am grateful. I refuse to allow things out of my control to get me worked up.
May 17: I'm grateful for rising at 5 AM to see the moon outside my window. Wow! What a sight to see. What a time to be alive. I am here. I am well. I am safe.
May 18: I am grateful for getting up and going to the gym while away on travel. Working out is not my favorite thing, but I did it. My walk was lovely this morning, too. A bunny crossed right in front of my path. I wonder if that means anything significant. Nature makes me smile.
May 19th: I'm grateful for homemade Italian food.
May 20th: I'm grateful for a fantastic two-hour nap. I needed that. I don't know when I napped for that long.
May 21: I'm grateful for the beautiful final day of teaching and my first pedicure since the pandemic. My nail tech was terrific, and we shared a great conversation.
May 22: I am grateful for safe travel home! There's nothing like making it back to my family and getting greeted by their smiles and hugs.
May 23rd: I'm grateful for the nice weather and sunshine.
May 24th: I am grateful for my husband going with me to get a haircut and talking the barber through what I wanted so that he didn't mess me up, lol. I'm also grateful for a night out with my hubby. My mom came to watch the kids. I'm grateful for her too.
May 25th: I am grateful that Maxi ended up not having pneumonia. She does have an ear infection, but her spirits are high.
May 26th: I'm grateful for my breath. It's been a hard couple of days. My heart is aching about all the tragedy in the world. I am sitting with it and breathing through it.
May 27th: I'm grateful for a long walk with my closest friends. We had a nice stroll.
May 28th: I'm grateful that my husband and I celebrated our sixth wedding anniversary!
May 29th: I'm grateful for a fun pottery class with my oldest. We've been doing pottery for months now, and it's truly our favorite thing right now.
May 30th: I'm grateful for ice cream with sprinkles! My children love it, and eating it with them brings her big feelings of joy.
May 31st: I am grateful for sticking with this practice all month. Some days were more challenging than others, but it feels good to finish what I started and be present in my life.
Community: How did this month go for you all? Tell me all about it in the comments. What stood out to you the most during your Gratitude Practice?
Call to Action:
Watch my conversation with Carissa of The People I've Loved.
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